49ers fall to 0-3 with loss in Kansas City

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) on the sideline with cornerback Phillip Adams (35) and running back Moran Norris (44) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010. The Chiefs defeated the 49ers 31-10. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

By that logic, Singletary owes Chiefs coach Todd Haley a fruit basket and a nice box of muffins.

Kansas City ran circles around the 49ers in a 31-10 victory Sunday. The Chiefs used a zesty, innovative offense that made the 49ers look stuck in time by comparison. The 49ers' lone touchdown came in the final seconds -- scraping the bottom of garbage time -- only after Singletary called three timeouts over the final 1:41 with the game long out of hand.

Quarterback Alex Smith's starting job could be under review after Singletary hinted at impending change. Smith acknowledged his role in the defeat, saying that the problems were too widespread to point one finger. "We were pretty inept all the way around," he said. "Throwing it. Running it. Penalties. It was all in there."

The Chiefs, meanwhile, scored touchdowns as if they were magic tricks. Their eclectic playbook included a 45-yard touchdown pass out of the Wildcat formation. The direct snap went to running back Thomas Jones, who flipped the ball to receiver Dexter McCluster, who flipped the ball to quarterback Matt Cassel -- who chucked it downfield to Dwayne Bowe in the end zone.

Touchdown. Just like that.

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Later in the game, leading by a wide margin and without need for such trickery, the Chiefs simply ran it down the 49ers' throats. Jamaal Charles had 97 rushing yards and Jones had 95 as Kansas City rolled out 207 ground yards against one of the league's best run defenses.

The 49ers hadn't given up that many since the Bills rumbled over them for 226 in 2004.

As is their custom in the face of defeat, the 49ers remained confident.

"I live by faith, and I truly believe this is a team of destiny," linebacker Takeo Spikes said. "But we are what we are right now. Am I OK with that? No, but that's what I have to deal with. That's what we have to deal with. Do I feel like we can come out of this? Absolutely."

The loss drops the 49ers to 0-3, a daunting pit for a team once surrounded by talk of winning the NFC West title. Since 1990, only three teams have rallied from 0-3 deficits to make the playoffs: the '92 Chargers (who started 0-4), the '95 Lions and the '98 Bills.

Next up, the 49ers head across the country to face Atlanta (2-1). Before that trip, Singletary said he would watch the film "and make some decisions going forward." He did not elaborate on who was going to get the hardest look. When asked specifically about Jimmy Raye, Singletary said Raye would remain offensive coordinator for the remainder of the season.

Singletary offered no word one way or the other on Smith, who completed 23 of 42 passes for 232 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

But it did not bode well for the quarterback when Singletary said the problems were not with the play call but how they were run. "I think it's execution," the coach said. "But in a loss like this, I'm sure you could say it was a number of things. "... It's just one of those things where a coach can call a play, but the bottom line is we have to execute it."

While the 49ers struggled for one touchdown, the Chiefs kept reaching the end zone in clever new ways. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis coaxed touchdowns out of a swing pass (31 yards to McCluster), a trick play (the 45-yarder to Bowe, who got behind safety Dashon Goldson), a pass to a backup tight end (18 yards to Tony Moeaki) and a good ol' fashioned run up the gut (3 yards by Jones).

The Chiefs are 3-0 for the first time since 2003.

In contrast, the 49ers had trouble getting first downs, let alone getting to the end zone. Receiver Michael Crabtree, who was being counted on for a breakout season, caught only three of the eight passes on which he was targeted for 37 yards.

Smith tried to hit Crabtree on a third-and-4 play early in the second quarter, but the quarterback and receiver crossed signals. The pass overshot Crabtree and wound up in the hands of Brandon Flowers for an interception.

Asked if the two still had work to do to get on the same page, Crabtree said: "All I can do is do my job. I can't really worry about what Alex is doing. Even though that's my quarterback and I'll always have his back. But at the same time, whoever the quarterback is, I'm just going to do my job."

Smith said that Crabtree was his third read on that play, as an outlet receiver to his right. He thought Crabtree would come inside more. He didn't. The only person who read the play correct was Flowers: "Yeah, I've seen that route on film a lot," he said. "Crabtree likes to run to the flat and then angle it back for a slant. I just played what I'd seen on film."

The interception set up Kansas City's first touchdown, a play that set the tone for the rest of the Chiefs' day. McCluster roared past linebacker Travis LaBoy in the flat and, as he closed in on the end zone, launched himself past defensive backs Goldson and Shawntae Spencer. The scoring drive: one play, 31 yards, 10 seconds -- and a permanent place on the highlight reel.

"After that first missed tackle, I had it played out in my mind: 'They're over-pursuing, cut back, touchdown,' " McCluster said.

The 49ers should be so lucky. Instead, Singletary spent the postgame news conference saying repeatedly that he needed to see the film before settling on what needs to be changed.